I love that overnight oats are customizable; I can vary the recipe to suit the flavors I’m craving and what’s on my mind that day. I also know that no matter what combination I choose, I’ll feel satisfied and nourished after eating them. I love good food, but I also need a boost of energy on busy mornings, and that’s key for me. So, for a protein boost, I almost always add creamy ricotta cheese to my overnight oats.
Necessary protein supplement
I learned something about myself in college: cereal and milk for breakfast just wasn’t for me. Unfortunately, I realized this a little later than I would have liked (a full year later). As a freshman, I would gobble down a bowl of cereal every morning at breakfast and leave satisfied and ready to study, only to find myself groggy an hour later. To my horror, when I got hungry, my stomach would sometimes make embarrassingly loud rumbling noises that could be heard by everyone in the lecture hall. I persisted, however, trying different cereals, adding a banana, and still feeling super hungry an hour or so after eating.
It wasn’t until I got more involved in nutrition classes that I started to learn the importance of variety. My breakfast was heavy on carbs, which was fine, but I wanted more. protein To feel more satisfied, I switched from cereal to whole wheat bread with peanut butter and honey. I drank milk and always had some kind of fruit. And guess what? I was able to concentrate better. My stomach stopped growling!
Fast forward several years and I still enjoy a whole grain, protein-packed breakfast, especially overnight oats, for which I’ve tried a variety of protein options, but ricotta has become my favorite.
Adding ricotta to overnight oats makes sense
Food is fuel, but it’s also something to enjoy. If the fuel doesn’t taste good, I’m not really interested. I’ve eaten overnight oats in a variety of ways, but after swapping out the creamy ricotta for Greek yogurt (which is also delicious), I was hooked. Unlike cottage cheese, which has a strong, tangy flavor (which I tried and didn’t like), ricotta has a mild, slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with oats and the other ingredients commonly added to overnight oats. Not only is it delicious, it’s also incredibly nutritious: A 1/2-cup serving of whole-milk ricotta cheese contains 10 grams of protein and 289 milligrams of calcium (which is about 30 percent of the recommended dietary intake for most adults). Also, Vitamin B12It is an important nutrient for nerve function, red blood cell production, DNA production, and metabolism.
Tips for adding ricotta cheese to overnight oats
Adding ricotta to your overnight oats recipe is easy, but here are a few tips:
- If you’re concerned about the saturated fat content of whole-milk ricotta, try ricotta made with part-skim milk; it’ll be a little less creamy but taste just as good.
- Start small: If you’re not sure what ricotta tastes like, try adding just a tablespoon to your overnight oats recipe, and if you like it, replace it 1:1 with the yogurt in the recipe.
- Add flavors to complement your ricotta. Luckily, ricotta has a mild flavor that pairs well with a variety of ingredients. I love pairing it with citrus fruits (both the juice and the zest) and stone fruits like cherries, peaches, and apricots. Nuts are great, too; pistachios, walnuts, and almonds provide the perfect crunch. Add spices, too; I love ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom.
Conclusion
Adding ricotta cheese to overnight oats is a delicious way to get a protein boost. Start with a small amount and mix with other ingredients to enjoy different flavors and nutrients, depending on your taste. Enjoy them for breakfast or anytime as a delicious snack. Overnight Oats The appeal is that it is highly customizable, but if you are looking for recipes, Fig and Ricotta Overnight Oats.
